Chapter 91 – We, oui. Yes.

Although everything had been a hectic mess due to Hajin and Yeonha's elopement, as well as Jonghak being caught lacking by Suho pointing out his 'roster' of Nayun and Yeonha...

The rest of the week passed in relative peace.

Yeonha's father was busy, so after handling his angry dad business, he went back to working as the head of Essence of Strait.

Yeonha's mother was busy too since she was basically financing all of Essence of Strait by running their numerous businesses, so she headed off too.

And eventually, it was just Lee, Rachel, and Evandel hanging out with Yeonha and Hajin at Yeonha's place with Nayun dropping by every now and then.

The plan was originally to go back and do some more treasure hunting... at least, that was Lee's plan.

But it turned out that he got more stuff from the Smithsonian than he thought, so they spent a while sorting through all of that.

Hajin, of course, was in theorycrafting heaven. Especially with Yeonha helping him out with his various loadouts and definitely playing her role as the rich wifey who wanted to spoil him.

Evandel was enjoying spending time with her aunties and mommy as well as playing with her plushies and making hand-crafted presents for everyone.

But on Friday evening, April 11th...

===

The training grounds in the back of the Yoo estate. There, as the sun set, Lee was helping to train and give feedback on Hajin's close quarters combat.

But eventually, after chatting, the conversation turned towards weekend plans.

Lee raised an eyebrow and said, "The Traveling Club is going to have a meeting tomorrow? In France?"

Hajin nodded, practicing basic bayonet thrusts on a training musket. "Yeah. I can't tell exactly why we need to go, but there's something important that I need to do there."

"...Nayun's not going though? Suho isn't either. It'll just be you and Yeonha going then."

"Huh?" Hajin blinked. "...Suho's not going?"

"Yeah." Lee nodded. "He's spending time with family and lazing about for once apparently."

Hajin frowned. "How come I didn't hear about this?"

"Because you and Yeonha barely keep your hands off each other at night."

Hajin turned a beet red. "Th-That's..."

Lee rolled his eyes and said, "There's no need to be embarrassed. Everyone knows how kinky Yeonha gets. And girls apparently can get horny when they're pregnant. Speaking of which, did you find out for sure yet? I think there's some magic artifacts that can check, right?"

Hajin turned an even deeper shade of red and then shifted his bayonet to his left hand. Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, "Yeah... It's apparently going to be a girl."

"So... you're screwed."

"Huh?" Hajin blinked. "What do you mean?"

"...If you don't know, I've got nothing to say. You'll find out eventually."

Lee was lucky.

Because Evandel was such a well-behaved daughter... mostly because Rachel was generally serene, they didn't have any issues.

But a girl from Queen of Delusion Kim Yeonha and Mister Potential himself Kim Hajin...

"...Just don't call her Megumi."

"...Are you psychic? How did you know that's the name Yeonha was thinking about?"

Lee resisted the urge to facepalm. Instead, he focused and said, "So, the trip... you still want to go?"

Hajin hummed and said, "...I really should. There are a few things I need to clear up. But since Yeonha's pregnant, she shouldn't come. But if Suho's not going and Nayun isn't either- Wait. Why's Nayun not going?"

"She quit the Traveling Club. After the Hunting Club incident, she decided her time's better spent just training by herself and relaxing. Plus, she likes hanging out with Rachel and Eva."

Hajin slowly blinked. "...Then is it just going to be me?"

"Yep. Is that a problem?"

Hajin paused to think about it. Then he slowly said, "...No. This is good training too. I can't keep relying on people if I want to be deserving of Yeonha."

Lee clapped a hand on Hajin's shoulder and said, "That's the spirit. Though, it's not 'being deserving of Yeonha,' it's 'being a man who Yeonha would naturally love.'"

Hajin thought about Lee's words a bit. Then he let out a soft smile. "...Yeah. That's a big difference, isn't it?"

"Obviously. You're still belittling yourself." Lee laughed. "You can't keep being Potential Man forever, you know? Gotta pull out that stuff and do things with it before the world catches you off guard."

"True." Hajin laughed, staring at Lee with gratitude and... knowing?

...Lee felt like Hajin was misunderstanding something fundamental. But he rolled with it.

"You sure you can't tell me what you're planning to do on the trip to France?"

Hajin hummed as he followed Lee's advice of just getting his body used to swinging the bayonet around first, slashing at the makeshift pell.

The bayonet's blade struck against the leather-wrapped steel pole, letting out a muffled impact.

And after a few more of those, Hajin said, "...Would you come? Even if I didn't tell you what I had planned?"

"I mean, I'd like to think we're friends by now. Also, you didn't rat on my own private trip recently, right?"

Hajin blinked. And then he chuckled. "That's true... But did you really have to make such a big splash? No, how did you get involved with those people in the first place...?"

"Secret. I'd tell you, but I'm a fan of completely separating work from personal life, you know?"

"Right. You're like that... and you do freelance stuff too." Hajin murmured, as if compiling information in his head.

Again, Lee was sure he was misunderstanding things...

But it was funny to see how it would end up, so he didn't mind.

"...Alright." Hajin nodded. "There might not be too many people along for the Travel Club anyway, so I can probably bring you as a guest. And Yeonha's been telling me to go have a boys night with you and Suho so the girls can hang out..."

"...You do realize that just means she wants to brag about all the action she's been getting, right?"

"Wh-What? No, Yeonha wouldn't- ...Okay, she absolutely would. Ugh. Did NOT need to know or think about that..."

"Don't worry. Even if hypothetically Rachel or Nayun tell me about it through the grapevine, you would never know."

Hajin gave Lee a blank look.

Lee grinned.

Hajin sighed. "...Whatever. France it is. We're supposed to meet at the portals tomorrow at 1 PM, so I guess we'll just head off together?"

"Sure. I'll just bring my handy Dark Saber and retractable spear."

"...Dark Saber?"

"Yeah. This." Lee grabbed his fancy hilt hanging at his left side and held it up. After pressing a button, LED lights flickered before an ominous black blade with glowing white light wrapped around it.

Hajin stared at it. He stared more. Then he slowly said, "That's a toy."

"Not if I do this."

Lee focused and then used <Mana Manipulation> to draw out the mana from the hidden mana stones that he installed in the core of the hilt.

Then the light flickered even more before a hazy mirage like space itself was distorting wrapped around the blade.

Hajin stared at it. Then he stared at Lee.

Lee smiled.

Hajin sighed. "I have so many questions. So many. But I'll just ask this one."

"Alright. Then, just this once, I'll answer truthfully any question you have."

"You're on my side, right?"

"Well, are you planning to hurt Rachel or Eva in the future?"

"What? No. Yeonha would kill me. Literally. And then revive me. Maybe keep me in a closet..."

"...TMI, my man. TMI. But yeah, I'm on your side."

Hajin nodded. "Then that's fine-"

"Can I ask you a question then? And you aren't allowed to ask how I know."

Hajin stared at Lee, skeptical. But after a bit of thinking, he nodded. "...Fine. What is it?"

"So like. Why haven't you used your SP to give yourself an overpowered physique yet? You know that if you did something like 'Energy Accumulation' Physique or 'Photonic Energy' Physique you would literally solve all your problems right?"

Hajin stared at Lee.

Lee stared back.

Then Hajin slowly said, "...I won't ask how you know. But, hypothetically, if you had other ideas on how to spend SP... I would be open to them."

"Alright. Then... since you've been theorycrafting already, what's your bottleneck? Endurance? Damage? Durability? Stamina?"

"...All of it. My body's pretty weak. Even after Yeonha started feeding me things, I'm still only averaging 3.0 in my stats..."

"Okay. Then... Hm. If your Gift works like I think it does, the more detail the better. In that case... Allow me to describe how to recreate Superman's kryptonian physique that gets stronger with sunlight but in a more realistic and practical way by just using photonic energy while disregarding its intensity..."

===

> Great luck! Detailed insight from a certain Cube Cadet, clear logic, and a meticulous blueprint for a unique physique has been obtained!

> The cost of creating the Physique is reduced to zero!

> You have successfully created the [Photonic Energy Accumulation Physique]!

[Photonic Energy Accumulation Physique]

Through leveraging the universal energy conservation principle and treating magic power as a catalyst, you have converted the mitochondria in your cells as well as your individual cells into miniaturized power banks that absorb energy from photons and transmutes them into magic power.

While under direct sunlight, stats slowly rise in proportion to the sun's position in the sky until noon, whereupon your stats are doubled.

While under direct moonlight, stats rise according to the phase of the moon (double at full, 1.5 at half, 1.25 at crescent, etcetera.)

While under artificial light, stats rise according to the total lumens concentrated on the body, up to triple your stats.

At the end of the day, you permanently gain 1/10 of the maximum stat value you achieved during the day.

You gain a sense and ability to manipulate photonic energy, as well as the capacity to imbue and refine weapons with light (not light-affinity magic power, but photonic energy).

Your attacks gain 'Starlight Affinity,' which inflicts True Damage against all elemental types and double damage against Divine or Demonic.

Invariable stats are not affected by this physique.

> Great luck! Insight from a certain Cube Cadet as well as clear and meticulous details have decreased the cost of creating a new Art!

> You have created the Art: [Inventory]!

[Inventory]

The most essential ability for anyone who fights using a variety of weaponry. Through utilizing understanding of liminal spaces, noneuclidean geometry, as well as mass->energy->thought conversion, you are able to store items within your magic power.

-Can instantly store and summon items from within a Memory Palace.

-The limiting factor is based upon your long-term memory.

-Items that no longer fit in your Memory Palance will automatically be materialized to the closest safe location.

> Update: Numerous Dungeon instances will occur over the weekend related to historical myths!

> Setting change: To balance your updated physique, all Djinn gain 'Darkness Affinity Physique' which nullify elemental damage and mitigate physical attacks!

> Setting change: Alexander Lancaster has been strengthened to serve as a key antagonist! Potential 9.5-> 10.

> Setting change: Alexander Lancaster has changed his plans, prioritizing developing a faction of power before pursuing actions against Rachel!

> Update: Evandel Morgana Pendragon has been designated as a key character for the sequel story! Do your best to conclude the prequel story in a way that allows the sequel story to continue with ease!

> Setting change: To account for the ripple effects, key plot points and details have been shuffled! Be warned, certain events may not unfold like you originally planned, Author!

===

"So this is France, huh?" Lee spoke in English and then looked around the area with an amused look on his face. "I wonder if I can find Durandal here. That seems pretty useful... Suho could use it too."

But while Lee was enjoying the scenery...

Hajin stared blankly at the flurry of system messages popping up in front of his eyes. Then he let out a long suffering sigh and murmured, "I guess this is the cost for taking the main character spot, huh?"

Lee glanced back at Hajin and spoke up in Korean. "What was that, Hajin? Main character energy? You don't have any of that, by the way."

Hajin rolled his eyes and held up his smartwatch. "Since we're here, Yeonha wanted me to try out a few restaurants to see if they're good enough to go on our honeymoon."

"...You seriously taking a guy with you to a fancy Michelin restaurant?"

"Do you HAVE to make it weird...?"

"Always."

Hajin sighed. "...Let's just go. I've got us a reservation at this place called Goût Céleste."

"Oh, that place. An associate of mind said she'll be there too. Something to do with intel gathering for a heist later tonight."

As Hajin led the way, he frowned and said, "Should... you be telling me this?"

"You have your sources anyway, so you'd probably find out if you got curious. Better to hear it from me."

"...Okay, just how much about my abilities do you know, man...?"

"I know that you're bullshit. That's about it. And that you aren't smart enough to make proper use of it, so hit me up when you're at a wall. As long as it doesn't mess with my family or makes my life more complicated, I'm down for it."

"...I still don't know whether to be grateful or frustrated with you."

"Both."

"...I'm vetoing you as our daughter's godfather."

"Smart move. Pick Suho. He needs a reason to not accidentally split the world in half."

"..."

"You know I'm right."

Hajin sighed.